Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - The United States has completed the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
The final U.S. troops and equipment left Erbil Air Base on Wednesday, formally ending the Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq.
Washington and Baghdad are now shifting toward a bilateral defence relationship, while the U.S.-led coalition's counter-Islamic State operations continue from Jordan and Syria.
The withdrawal has raised immediate security concerns inside Iraq. Some officials and analysts fear that Iran-backed militias could gain greater room to operate as the U.S. military presence disappears, while Islamic State sleeper cells could exploit any weaknesses in Iraqi security forces.
The Kurdish region has also expressed concern over the loss of U.S. protection and air-defence capabilities following more than 1,000 drone and missile attacks during the recent U.S.-Iran conflict.
Iraq now faces the urgent task of maintaining security without the U.S. military presence that has supported its forces with training, intelligence and surveillance. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has presented the withdrawal as a new phase of Iraqi sovereignty, but powerful Iran-backed militias have resisted government efforts to disarm them.
The coming months will test whether Iraq's security institutions can contain Islamic State remnants and armed groups while preventing a new security vacuum.
0 Comments